Mika Häkkinen

Two World Championships and one of F1's most remarkable personal stories — Häkkinen recovered from near-fatal brain surgery to become champion.

Mika Pauli Häkkinen was born in Vantaa, Finland in 1968 and won back-to-back Formula 1 World Championships with McLaren in 1998 and 1999 — the only driver other than Schumacher to win consecutive titles in that era. He drove for Lotus (1991), Sauber (1993) and McLaren (1993–2001). He won 20 Grand Prix from 165 starts, set 26 pole positions and scored 51 podiums with 420 career points. His return from a life-threatening crash at the 1995 Australian Grand Prix — a tyre failure at high speed that caused brain trauma requiring emergency trackside surgery — to become world champion is one of F1's most celebrated recoveries. His rivalry with Michael Schumacher from 1998 to 2000 is the most celebrated head-to-head of the modern era — his 2000 Belgian Grand Prix overtaking battle at Raidillon, side-by-side through one of the fastest corners in F1, is the most replayed wheel-to-wheel moment in the sport's history. He was noted for his emotional transparency — weeping on the podium at Suzuka 1998 after clinching his first title, wailing at the side of the track at Silverstone 1999 after a pit stop mistake cost him the lead — moments that contrasted with the stoicism typical of champions of his era.

Smooth, calculated driving with exceptional racecraft

Finnish F1 legend who brought McLaren back to championship glory

• F1 World Champion 1998, 1999 (McLaren)
• 20 race wins, 26 pole positions
• 51 podiums
• Rivalry with Schumacher defining late 1990s
• Recovered from near-fatal crash Adelaide 1995
• Finnish national hero